Sinnonhyeon steak rice bowl grilled on a tabletop brazier: Ichigyu

I was listening to a Korean cover of a J-pop song I like and suddenly thought about the trip to Japan I took in spring. There were so many foods I missed out on eating there, and I couldn't exactly hop back to Japan right away, so I figured I'd at least chase that Japanese feeling with a meal here in Korea. That's how I ended up at Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch, a Sinnonhyeon restaurant I found while searching. I went alone this time and had the steki-don!

Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch: hours, break time and parking

Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch is on the 2nd floor at 19 Bongeunsa-ro 4-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, near Sinnonhyeon Station. It's open daily from 11:00 to 21:30, with a break time from 15:00 to 17:00 and last order at 20:30.

• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:30
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Last order: 20:30
• Address: 19 Bongeunsa-ro 4-gil, 2nd floor, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Parking: No on-site parking; use nearby paid lots

What the entrance to Ichigyu looks like

Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch has a Japanese-style interior overall, which made for a cozy atmosphere.

When I went there was a couple dining too, so it would work fine as a date spot. Eating alone didn't feel awkward at all, and the staff were friendly, so I had a comfortable meal. I visited around lunchtime and thankfully it wasn't too crowded. If there's a wait, remote line-up is available starting at 11 AM, so that's worth keeping in mind before visiting this Sinnonhyeon restaurant!

How to order: scan the table QR code and use Toss Order

To order, you scan the QR code on the table and use Toss Order. It was convenient being able to browse the menu at my own pace at the table without having to flag down staff.

If you're driving, there are nearby paid private lots you can use. Le Meridien Lot 2 and 3 operate 24 hours, and Semyeong Parking is also fairly close, so keep that in mind if you're coming by car.

Steki-don you grill yourself on the tabletop brazier

Since it's called steki-don, I expected the meat to come fully cooked.

Instead, the sirloin came out around medium rare, and you finish grilling it to your liking on the brazier and cast-iron plate placed on the table.

I hadn't even ordered gyukatsu, so the self-grilling setup surprised me a little at first, haha. As I moved the pieces of meat sitting on the rice onto the brazier one by one, some ended up with rice grains stuck to them and grilled along with the meat.

Having to grill it yourself might feel like a hassle to some, but I found it fun getting to cook meat over a brazier again after a long time.

Sirloin with Isigny butter, wasabi and garlic flakes

The meat was sirloin with a nice savory aroma. Eating it with French Isigny butter really brought the flavor to life.

Butter and meat really is a match made in heaven, haha. It also went well the classic way with a little wasabi on top, and adding garlic flakes brought out even more savory flavor, so I kept reaching for more.

Grilling it on the plate to just the right doneness while the juices were still intact made it soft and moist. I was a bit rushed since I had somewhere to be, so I ate faster than usual, which was a shame, but it was still a really satisfying meal.

Is Ichigyu good for solo dining?

It was easy to eat alone, so I had a satisfying solo meal in Gangnam. That said, the atmosphere isn't only suited to solo dining. Grilling the meat yourself on the brazier is fun, so it would be great to visit with a partner or friends too. In fact there was a couple there when I went. I ate quickly alone this time, but I've saved this Sinnonhyeon restaurant to come back to with friends and take my time next round.

Final verdict on Ichigyu Sinnonhyeon

Missing my Japan trip made me crave a Japanese-style meal, and I ended up really liking the combination at Ichigyu Gangnam Sinnonhyeon Branch — from grilling it yourself on the brazier to the sirloin, Isigny butter, and the special sauce. It was comfortable to visit alone, and the fun of self-grilling makes it work well both for solo dining and as a date spot in Gangnam! The combination of juicy sirloin over rice with the special sauce stuck with me. Next time I want to come back with more time to spare — a Sinnonhyeon restaurant worth revisiting :)